Traction vs Mecanichal grip

We often hear these two concepts and I don't their exact meaning. Do they mean the same?
As I understand it, we call mechanical grip the grip a car has that doesn't come from its aero. Whereas traction refers to the performance of a car accelerating from slow speeds.
Anyway, I'm not sure and would welcome an explanation.

Hi mate!Forward drive is a weird term to me, I know a few drivers and engineers that use it. It's not as if you refer to braking as reverse bite?!

Ya, it's a weird one to me as well. It's funny, though, it really doesn't matter what terms a driver/engineer use as long as _they_ understand it. Getting that language sorted out can be a bit of a chore at times, though, huh?

The term "mechanical grip" is often used to differentiate that portion of the grip not attributable to aero DF.

That s my understanding as well. Although methods of improving mechanical grip will also impact - usually negatively - on the aerodynamic side. Well known measures to improve mechanical grip are wider tyres and wider tracks as the cars used to have in the 90ties. Many people would appreciate that but you would have to consider the benefits against increased drag. I would love the look of fat tyres as they used to have in the past. The current spec looks skinny. If you ask me they could well take a way some down force if we would get wider tyres again. The top speed would be reduced and slow cornering would become faster. It would probably be positive in terms of safety as well. Who needs cars that are hugely fast on the straights?

If you ask me they could well take a way some down force if we would get wider tyres again. The top speed would be reduced and slow cornering would become faster. It would probably be positive in terms of safety as well. Who needs cars that are hugely fast on the straights?

Isn't it a bit reversed? Corners are where cars usually crash, so going faster before crashing doesn't seem safer to me.

Isn't it a bit reversed? Corners are where cars usually crash, so going faster before crashing doesn't seem safer to me.

It depends of the trajectory. Generally the critical point is a straight leading into a tight turn. So brake failure would necessitate the run off to absorb the full speed of the car. In that scenario straight line speed would be critical.

Surely less downforce is going to lead to higher straight speeds...

Its all a question of balance. If you have identical power and fit fatter tyres less power and drag is available for downforce generation. Speed must not necessarily rise in such a scenario.